3694 Tasting Notes
November Sipdown Challenge Prompt – a tea that is good on the go
I almost always have this tea in my travel mug when we are on the road. Traveling makes me tense sometimes, and if tulsi can soothe even a little bit it is worth it. Plus it is a delicious tea and so much better than plain tulsi by itself to me. I have a giant Bellocq tin of this thanks to Superanna!
November Sipdown Challenge Prompt – a bedtime tea
These loose flowers are now nine years old. I am not a big chamomile drinker, especially plain, but I am determined to finish this. This is as good as any chamomile, but it isn’t something I reach for. I actually used it for soothing my dog’s feet and it worked wonderfully for that. I also like it iced in summer as a lunchtime refresher that is also good for my tummy. I think if I make a pitcher to drink cold, this will finally be a sipdown.
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A definite someday re-purchase. This is rich, chocolate-y, and boozy. I have had it for breakfast and lunch, as well as with afternoon tea with or without snacks.
I drink it plain, but with milk, sugar, and a splash of grog or even just plain with a splash of Bailey’s Irish Cream I think it would make a nice warming festive drink if you imbibe.
November 28 Sipdown Challenge Prompt – Black Friday: drink a black tea
I have been trying to choose international prompts and not just American holidays, but it seems Black Friday has spread far and wide so I used it! And if the opportunity arises I will sign a petition to move American Thanksgiving to the same time as Canada’s because it just makes more sense, but we can keep Black Friday closer to year end bonuses and Christmas for shopping purposes. Ha ha!
I asked AliasHali to help me choose and she said that since I mentioned that I have hoarding this tea I should declare today a special occasion and drink it, so I did. I am shocked that I haven’t reviewed it here yet because I have dropped a broad hint or two that it would be a great item on a Christmas list…
My first Golden Monkey was many years ago from Harney & Sons. It was a real breakthrough tea for me because it was the first I loved without sugar and put me on the path to giving up sugar in my tea. The following year their catalog warned that there had been drought and the new harvest was not as sweet and rich. It was still good, but nothing like the first one I tried.
Teavivre has a very good GM and the price point is excellent, though I might rank a good harvest from Harney slightly higher. Teavana had a one but it simply tasted like a decent breakfast tea to me. It lacked the sweet potato and honey notes of Harney’s and Teavivre’s.
Happy Lucky comes along and charms my socks off. This is a rich, full-bodied GM with both sweet potato and honey notes. It is a real treat, and was a gift from AliasHali – many thanks.
I totally agree that the U.S. should switch to Canadian Thanksgiving. Having two major holidays only a month apart sounds super stressful. It also doesn’t make travelling to see family any easier.
ha, I just happened to be drinking Teavivre’s Golden Monkey right now and realized I can use it for this prompt. :)
This is a good one, and my pouch is getting old, better go drink it!
Leafhopper: I would love an October Thanksgiving!
I have followed you on here for years and had just read some tasting notes of yours, and noticed that steepster doesn’t show me as following you so I clicked the follow button again. Just one of their glitches, I guess.
That’s weird! I’m pretty sure you’ve liked tasting notes of mine over the years, so I just assumed we were following each other. It usually sends me a note when I get another follower, but I didn’t get one recently. Hopefully Steepster hasn’t unfollowed you by mistake.
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We had a guest for Thanksgiving and she loves Earl Grey type teas. She said “the stronger the better” and this is one of the strongest Earls I have right now! She loved the aroma, and now has requested a tea flight in the near future!
Many thanks to TeaEarleGreyHot who sent this tea to me.
Surprise tea-mail from gmathis! Thank you!
I am drinking this while on the second day of a cold that has leveled Ashman for almost two weeks and AliasHali for four days. My taster might not be as sensitive as it should be, but I agree strongly with gmathis that this is a very woody tea. The base could easily support milk and sugar if you wished but is not brisk, so it doesn’t NEED additions for taming. The berry flavor is light but that could be the cold talking and the cream is mild and doesn’t come off as straight vanilla as cream can do at times.
A welcome diversion to soothe my angry uvula.
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November 20th Sipdown Challenge Prompt – World Philosophy Day
Viktor Frankl’s quote, "Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” This combined with the quote “The most important decision you make is to be in a good mood.“
As far as my own personal experience goes, I have learned so late in life that joy and sorrow can exist in us at the same time. Grief and sorrow do not have to completely swallow joy, and there are blessings around us at all times if we open our eyes.
This is a sipdown of a lovely tea Superanna purchased for me in Japan. It is hearty black tea with raspberry flavor and white chocolate. I had it for breakfast but had made a large pot so I got to continue drinking it throughout the morning. Great with food and on its own. Resteeps well.
